runway en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
From run + way.
Meanings
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A defined, narrow section of land or an artificial structure used for access.
From many years’ experience with automobiles, I have known the manner of signaling by horn to the garage keeper or elevator man the desire to enter the building. As many garages are located in residence districts, this is truly a very annoying custom and should be stopped. To overcome this nuisance a handy electric push button could be mounted on posts on either side of the runway, about five feet high, so that they could be easily reached as the car approaches the garage door. These posts could be placed near the curb, and two are recommended to serve cars with left or right side drive.
1915 December 7 [1915 December 4], F. H. W., “For the Auto Horn Nuisance.”, in The New York Times, volume LXV, number 21,136, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 12, column 6:Q. Was the fence all blocked by the freight? […] A. No, there was a runway left, so they could drive trucks through there inside the space.
1919 June 2, “The Defense. [Testimony of John J. Sullivan.]”, in Court of Appeals of the State of New York: ANGELO PALERMO, as Administrator of the Goods, Chattels and Credits of Michele Palermo, Deceased, Plaintiff-Respondent, against THE CITY OF NEW YORK, Impleaded with CENTRAL VERMONT RAILWAY COMPANY, Defendant-Appellant: Case on Appeal, New York, N.Y.: Appeal Printing Company, […], paragraph 311, page 104:The invention comprehends an inclined runway or cable connected at its upper end in any desirable way to a point adjacent the bin, pocket, or chute to which the coal is to be delivered and connected at its lower end to a post or other point of attachment located at the side of the pile of coal. […] The coal tub or carrier by means of which the coal is conveyed is suspended from and adapted to run along the runway or cable, […]
1894 December 10, Frank H[enry] Symons, Apparatus for Reloading Coal, US Patent 546,790, page 1:A TAKE-DOWN CANOE RUNWAY. A very handy adjunct to the camp of a canoeist is a runway that can be taken apart and transported easily.
1921 May, P. P. Avery, “Nessmuck’s”, in Forest and Stream, volume XCI, number 5, New York, N.Y.: Forest and Stream Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 210:
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The usual path taken by deer or other wild animals, such as from a forest to a water source.
There is a water-break formed by a small terrace of rock in mid-stream, and purling with a hollow, delicious monotone—an island of pebbles is above, with here and there smaller ones near the "forks." This pebbly island is directly on the runway, or customary trail which the hunted deer pursues through the forests. […] I fix my eyes steadily upon the runway—straining them almost from their sockets—still no deer.
1846 October, Alfred B[illings] Street, “A Day’s Hunting about the Mongaup”, in George R[ex] Graham, editor, Graham’s American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art, volume XXIX, number 4, Philadelphia, Pa.: George R. Graham & Co., […], →OCLC, page 190:In the mornings hoar-frost lay thick upon the ground, and thin ice formed in currentless shallows and overlay the muskrat runways.
1922 November 25, A[rthur] M[urray] Chisholm, “A Thousand a Plate”, in Western Story Magazine, volume XXX, number 4, New York, N.Y.: Street & Smith Corporation, →OCLC, chapter I, page 86, column 2:These streams have always been, and, of right ought to be, the runways for shad and salmon, when these fishes are seeking a spawning bed;[…]. The public at large, […] are entitled to have the full benefit of these runways free from any such permanent obstructions as will prevent the ready passage of fish up stream, or will destroy them uselessly on their return to the river and sea.
1874, “Fifth Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries of the State of New Jersey for the Year 1874”, in Documents of the Ninety-ninth Session of the Legislature of New Jersey, Thirty-first under the New Constitution (Document; no. 8), Camden, N.J.: John H. Jones, book and job printer, published 1875, →OCLC, page 15:The runways rapidly narrow in both diameters, and as they reach that portion of the way which is substantially horizontal, they are of a size to allow an adult marmot to readily pass through.
1893 July–October, William Hubbell Fisher, “Investigations of the Burrows of the American Marmot. (Arctomys momax.)”, in The Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, volume XIV, number 2 & 3, Cincinnati, Oh.: Cincinnati Society of Natural History, […], →OCLC, page 108:
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A narrow walkway (often on a platform) extending from a stage on which people walk, especially one used by models during fashion shows.
He halfheartedly paid attention to the flurry of activity on the runway, until a thunderous round of applause suddenly broke out. He then sat up straight, giving his full attention to the striking, attention-grabbing model who'd just strolled onto the runway.
2009, Linda Hudson-Smith, chapter 1, in Romancing the Runway (Kimani Romance), Washington, D.C.: Kimani Press, →ISBN:At a time when “heroin chic” ruled the runway, the press tormented the granddaughter of Roald Dahl about her curvier body.
2023 November 18, Jess Cartner-Morley, Chloe Mac Donnell, “40 outrageous photos that changed fashion, from teenage Kate Moss to Twiggy in a mini and Lady Gaga’s meat dress”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
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In javelin, long jump, and similar events: a short track along which athletes can accelerate themselves for their jumps or throws.
The main goal of the approach run is to attain the maximum controllable running speed on the runway immediately prior to the throw.
1984, Robert Fong Sing, The Dynamics of the Javelin Throw, Cherry Hill, N.J.: Reynolds Publishers, →ISBN, page 44:Proper footwear is a must for javelin throwing. To some degree the surface of the runway will dictate the type of shoe.
1969, Virginia Parker, Robert [Emmett] Kennedy, Track and Field for Girls and Women (Saunders Physical Activities Series), Philadelphia, Pa.: W. B. Saunders, →OCLC, page 84:
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A section of land, usually paved, for airplanes to land on or take off from.
Down at the end of the field when ready for the take-off, I'd taxi the ship off the runway and tell him why I did that—"so as not to block incoming ships," and I'd tell him at the same time why the incoming ship was supposed to land in the first third of the field and why in the take-off we were going all the way to the end of the runway and not try to take off up the middle of the runway.
1945, Robert Lee Scott Jr., Runway to the Sun, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner's Sons, →OCLC, page 135:There have been seven close calls on US runways this year, which has led to a fair amount of news coverage, some alarm among the flying public and a lot of calls for answers.
2023 March 11, Zachary B. Wolf, “What’s going on with all the runway close calls”, in CNN:Dozens of residents assembled cars and 4-wheelers to light the runway so the plane could land and pick up a child who needed medical attention, Nelson said.
2020 September 1, Christina Zdanowicz, “When the runway lights failed, Alaska residents used their car headlights to land a medevac plane”, in CNN:They hurried across the waiting hall to the departure gates. Through the windows he could see the floodlights on the field, shining on the runways. Planes pulled up in rows at the gates, assembly-line style, workers swarming over them like ants even before they stopped.
2016 March, Joseph Kanon, Leaving Berlin: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Washington Square Press, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 313:Space Shuttle. A human-operated space vehicle launched by a rocket to orbit the Earth and then return to Earth and land undamaged on a runway like a conventional airplane.
1985, Mark Stephen Monmonier, “Glossary”, in Technological Transition in Cartography, Madison, Wis.; London: University of Wisconsin Press, →ISBN, page 267:
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(informal) The number of months that a startup company can operate by using up its cash reserves.
There was so much investment—as much capital as twice the GDP of Tuvalu—which meant we must have enough runway, right?
2020, Emily Segal, Mercury Retrograde, New York: Deluge Books, →ISBN:So, if you have $1.8M in the bank and monthly burn rate of $150,000, you have a runway of 12 months.
2014, Paul Paetz, “End Game”, in Disruption by Design: How to Create Products that Disrupt and Dominate Markets, Berkeley, Calif.: Apress, →ISBN, part III (The Last Mile), page 235:
- A stream bed.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| runways | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
runwayed · aerial runway · runwaylike · runway model · Tyrolean runway · antirunway
Descendants
Synonyms
Translations (169)
de Laufsteg (walkway extending from a stage) · lv starta ceļš ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hi उड़ानपट्टी ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ca pista ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu összeköttetés (section of land or artificial structure used for access) · it pista di atterraggio ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · th ลานวิ่ง ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sl pristajalna steza ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · lv ieskrējiena ceļš ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru взлётная полоса́ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu futópálya ((athletics) short track) · ru ВПП ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · be узлётна-паса́дачная паласа́ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ur رَن وے ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it pista ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · is flugbraut ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu kifutópálya ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · th ทางวิ่งเครื่องบิน ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · kk ҰҚЖ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ga rúidbhealach ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · pt passarela (walkway extending from a stage) · sh пи̏ста ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hy թռիչքուղի ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fr podium (walkway extending from a stage) · hu fel- és leszállópálya ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cs molo (walkway extending from a stage) · fa-ira بانْد ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru поса́дочная полоса́ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · km ផ្លូវយន្តហោះឡើងចុះ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sh pȉsta ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ja ランウエー (walkway extending from a stage) · de Landebahn ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · mk писта ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ar مُدَرَّجُ الْمَطَارِ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fa-ira بانْدِ فُرودْگاه ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it varco (usual path taken by wild animals) · hu híd (section of land or artificial structure used for access) · cmn 跑道 ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fi lava (walkway extending from a stage) · fr piste ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fi jokiuoma (stream bed) · nb rullebane ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · km ផ្លូវរត់យន្តហោះ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ms landasan terbang ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · nl startbaan ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it passaggio (usual path taken by wild animals) · th รันเวย์ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · da startbane ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · tt очып менү-төшү юлы ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ro pistă ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · id landas pacu ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ur ہَوائی پَٹِّی ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · lt kilimo ir tūpimo takas ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · de Start- und Landebahn ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fr passerelle (walkway extending from a stage) · tr pist ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · lv skrejceļš ((athletics) short track) · pt pista de pouso ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · my လေယာဉ်ပြေးလမ်း ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it letto (stream bed) · it pista di decollo ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · th ทางขึ้น ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fi joenpohja (stream bed) · sv djurstig (usual path taken by wild animals) · it autosufficienza (number of months that a startup company can operate on its cash reserves) · sv rullbana ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fi kiitotie ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it autonomia (number of months that a startup company can operate on its cash reserves) · de Startbahn ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · es pasarela (walkway extending from a stage) · sq pistë ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ga ardán taispeána (walkway extending from a stage) · eo avia dromo ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it operatività (number of months that a startup company can operate on its cash reserves) · de Flussbett (stream bed) · hu csapás (usual path taken by wild animals) · ko 활주로 ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · vi đường băng ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cy gwely (stream bed) · nn rullebane ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it pista ((athletics) short track) · ta ஓடுபாதை ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · es pista ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · nl catwalk (walkway extending from a stage) · cs runway ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ar مَدْرَج ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · uk злі́тна сму́га ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · pl droga startowa ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sv startbana ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ja 滑走路 ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru доро́жка ((athletics) short track) · cmn 伸展臺 /伸展台 (walkway extending from a stage) · sk vzletová a pristávacia dráha ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · acw مدرج ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu vadcsapás (usual path taken by wild animals) · it pista (usual path taken by wild animals) · hu pálya ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cmn 滑出跑道 ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu folyosó (section of land or artificial structure used for access) · tg хати парвоз ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru ру́сло (stream bed) · ne धावन मार्ग ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · he מַסלוּל הַמרָאָה ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cy rhedfa ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cs vzletová a přistávací dráha ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sh пи̏ста (walkway extending from a stage) · sv catwalk (walkway extending from a stage) · de SLB ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it passerella (walkway extending from a stage) · sv landningsbana ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · af aanloopbaan ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · da landingsbane ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sv djurstråk (usual path taken by wild animals) · sh пи̏ста ((athletics) short track) · bo གནམ་གྲུ་བབ་ལམ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru взлётно-поса́дочная полоса́ ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · nl landingsbaan ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · tl patakbuhan ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cmn 降落跑道 ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it sentiero (usual path taken by wild animals) · eo avia kurejo ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · es pista de despegue ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · sh pȉsta (walkway extending from a stage) · fi vauhdinottorata ((athletics) short track) · uk злі́тно-посадко́ва сму́га ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · gd raon-laighe ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · eu pista ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu kifutó (walkway extending from a stage) · fi kulkutie (section of land or artificial structure used for access) · bg по́диум (walkway extending from a stage) · cs ranvej ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · cy llwybr glanio ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fr piste d'atterrissage ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fo flogbreyt ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · el διάδρομος ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · kk ұшу-қону жолағы ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · bg пи́ста ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ko 런웨이 (walkway extending from a stage) · be УПП ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ca passarel·la (walkway extending from a stage) · uk ЗПС ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ka ასაფრენ-დასაჯდომი ზოლი ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it fondo (stream bed) · fi kiitorata ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it copertura (number of months that a startup company can operate on its cash reserves) · pl pas startowy ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · fi catwalk (walkway extending from a stage) · pt pista ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu futópálya ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · ru по́диум (walkway extending from a stage) · sh pȉsta ((athletics) short track) · it tracciato ((athletics) short track) · pl wybieg (walkway extending from a stage) · bg ру́сло (stream bed) · id landasan pacu ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu folyamágy (stream bed) · uk по́діум (walkway extending from a stage) · be по́дыум (walkway extending from a stage) · uk злі́тно-поса́дочна сму́га ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · th ลานบิน ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it circuito ((athletics) short track) · hu pálya (section of land or artificial structure used for access) · fi kulkureitti (usual path taken by wild animals) · es pista de aterrizaje ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · az uçuş-eniş zolağı ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · it alveo (stream bed) · et rada ((aviation) strip for airplanes to land on or take off from) · hu folyómeder (stream bed) · bg подхо́д (section of land or artificial structure used for access)